Apparatus and method for arc detection

ABSTRACT

An apparatus and technique are provided for generating a plasma using a power supply circuit and arc detection arrangement. The power supply circuit has a cathode enclosed in a chamber, and is adapted to generate a power-related parameter. The arc detection arrangement is communicatively coupled to the power supply circuit and adapted to assess the severity of arcing in the chamber by comparing the power-related parameter to at least one threshold. According to various implementations, arc occurrences, arcing duration, intensity and/or energy are measured responsive to comparing the power-related parameter to the at least one threshold. According to further implementations, the above-mentioned measured quantities are accumulated and/or further processed.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention is directed to arc detection and, more particularly, to an arc detection approach involving plasma generation.

BACKGROUND

[0002] Sputtering deposition, such as Physical Vapor Deposition (PVD), is a process for depositing thin, highly uniform layers of a variety of materials onto many objects, for example depositing a metal layer over a substrate such as a wafer used in forming integrated circuits (ICs). In a direct current (DC) sputtering process, the material to be deposited (target) and the substrate to accept the deposited material (wafer) are placed in a special vacuum chamber. The vacuum chamber is evacuated and subsequently filled with an inert gas, such as argon, at low pressure.

[0003] The wafer is electrically connected to the anode of a high voltage power supply, the anode being generally at or near earth potential. The walls of the sputtering chamber are also placed at this potential. A target, typically formed of metal, is placed in the vacuum chamber and electrically connected to the cathode of the high voltage power supply. Alternately, the target is formed of an insulating material. An electric field is generated between the target (cathode) and an anode by the power supply. When a potential between the anode and cathode reaches 200-400 volts, a glow discharge is established in the inert gas in the superconducting region of the well known Paschen curve.

[0004] When a glow discharge operates in the superconducting region of the Paschen curve, valence electrons are torn from the gas and flow toward the anode (ground), while the resulting positively-charged ionized gas atoms (i.e., plasma) are accelerated across the potential of the electric field and impact the cathode (target) with sufficient energy to cause molecules of the target material to be physically separated from the target, or “sputtered.” The ejected atoms travel virtually unimpeded through the low pressure gas and plasma, some of which land on the substrate and form a coating of target material on the substrate. The result, under ideal conditions, is a uniform cloud of target molecules in the chamber, leaving a resultant deposition of uniform thickness on the chamber and its contents (e.g., the wafer). This coating is generally isotropic, conforming to the shape of the objects in the chamber. A natural consequence of this action is that the target material wears or becomes thinner as more material is sputtered.

[0005] The processing of integrated circuits is reliant on the uniformity of coating resulting from the glow discharge process. The vacuum chamber containing the discharge and target material is carefully designed to attempt to maintain a uniform electric field, and a glow discharge is, in principle, sustainable over a range of electric field strengths, again in accordance with the Paschen curve. However, uniformity of electric field cannot be maintained perfectly and the uniformity of the glow discharge and henceforth wear on the target is influenced by a number of factors, including thermal currents generated in the chamber and other mechanical anomalies, such as target misalignment. To compensate for these anomalies, commercial PVD sputtering machines often incorporate a mechanism to rotate a large magnet at constant speed above the target. This rotation serves to disturb the electromagnetic field in the chamber, focusing the region in which the plasma impinges upon the target on a smaller, moving area. Maintaining a constant power in the chamber while rotating the magnet at a constant rate improves the uniformity of wear of the target, increasing target life and generally maintaining a more uniform distribution of molecular target material in the chamber. As the magnet rotates above the target, local geometric, thermal and other variations cause the lumped electrical impedance of the chamber to change. With the power supply configured to deliver a constant power to the glow discharge, the relation between chamber voltage and current required to maintain constant power changes in accordance with the variation in impedance. If one monitors the chamber voltage and current, a clear periodic variation in the chamber voltage and current can be observed, with the period equal to that of the rotational period of the magnet.

[0006] Even with the rotating magnet mechanism in place to attempt to stabilize the glow discharge, certain conditions can result in a local concentration of the electric field causing the glow discharge to pass from the superconducting region of the Paschen curve into the arcing region. Arcing during PVD results in an unintended low impedance path from the anode to the target through electrons or ions in the plasma, the unintended path generally including ground, with the arcing being caused by factors such as contamination (i.e., inclusions) of the target material, inclusions within the structure (e.g., surface) of the target, improper target alignment (e.g., misalignment of cathode and anode), vacuum leaks, and/or contamination from other sources such as vacuum grease. Target contaminants include SiO₂ or Al₂O₃.

[0007] Arcing during PVD is one cause of yield-reducing defects in forming integrated circuits on semiconductor wafers. While normal metal deposition is typically less than 1 micron thick, arcing causes a locally thicker deposition of metal on the wafer. When an arc occurs, the energy of the electromagnetic field of the chamber is focused on a smaller region of the target than intended (e.g., the neighborhood of the target defect), which can dislodge a solid piece of the target. The dislodged solid piece of target material may be large relative to the thickness of the uniform coating expected on the wafer, and if a large piece falls upon the wafer, it may cause a defect in the integrated circuit being formed at that location. Subsequent photolithography processing etches away various areas of the deposited metal layer, leaving metal conductor paths according to desired circuit patterns. Because arcing results in a localized defect (area) having a greater thickness than the surrounding metal, the defect area may not be thoroughly etched in the subsequent processing, resulting in an unintended circuit path (i.e., short) on the chip. A semiconductor chip has multiple metal layers separated by insulator layers, each of the metal levels formed by depositing, patterning and etching a metal layer as described above. A local defect in one layer can also distort an overlying pattern imaged onto the wafer in a subsequent photolithography step, and thus result in a defect in an overlying layer.

[0008] Manufacturing a wafer of modern integrated circuits can involve well over a thousand individual processing steps, the value of the wafer and consequently each individual integrated circuit die increasing with each processing step. Arcing in a PVD sputtering apparatus used to process wafers into integrated circuits can render portions of the wafer useless for its intended purpose, thereby increasing manufacturing costs. Using target materials free of arc-causing inclusions is one way of minimizing integrated circuit fabrication defects; however, target material may become contaminated during its manufacture or thereafter. Discovering target contamination prior to sputtering operations so as to prevent arcing defects is costly, both in terms of time and expense. Not discovering arcing defects in a timely manner is similarly costly in terms of random yield loss, for example by the manufacturer operating a deposition chamber until the target inclusion causing the arcing is sputtered through. Furthermore, when a solid piece of the target is dislodged during an arc, the surface of the target may be further damaged and the potential for future arcing in that neighborhood increases.

[0009] Absent real-time arc detection, corrective action is dependent upon the availability of parametric data. It is costly to measure the number of defective layers caused by arcing, for example via electrical tests designed to reveal shorts or by scanning the surface of wafers with a laser after metal deposition. These tests take time to run, during which production is delayed, or undetected yield loss occurs for an extended time. Since a defect such as a short at any level can impact integrated circuit functionality, it is desirable to avoid damage resulting from arcing during sputtering deposition.

[0010] Accordingly, real-time arc detection permits faster identification of sources of yield loss, and detection of incipient faults within the processing tool or target itself, both resulting in more efficient integrated circuit fabrication applications.

[0011] As discussed above, arcs can throw solid material into the chamber, and it can be assumed that any such piece of solid material landing on a wafer of integrated circuits has a high probability of damaging at least one integrated circuit. One statistic indicative of the potential damage to a wafer of integrated circuits is therefore the number of arcs that occur during a process step. It is also reasonable to assume that the expected damage caused by an individual arc to an integrated circuit wafer is a monotonically increasing function of the energy delivered to the arc, since a violent arc is likely to spread more solid material over a wider area than a relatively “mild” arc. A system that can estimate both the number of arcs occurring during a PVD sputtering process step as well as the severity of the arcs in real time is therefore a valuable tool in estimating the potential damage caused in a particular PVD sputtering step.

[0012] It is well known that when an arc occurs in a glow discharge process, the magnitude of the lumped impedance of the chamber decreases rapidly. When this occurs, the presence of series inductance in the driving point impedance of the power delivery system, comprising power supply and interconnection means, causes a rapid drop in the magnitude of observed voltage between the anode and cathode of the chamber. Observing the chamber voltage and comparing it against a fixed threshold is a common means of detecting the presence of an arc and one can readily accomplish this by attaching a common oscilloscope to the cathode, with the ground of the oscilloscope probe attached to the chamber. Having an estimate of the average chamber processing voltage, which one can obtain visually by observing the voltage using a free running oscilloscope, one can set the trigger point of the oscilloscope at a voltage greater than the expected voltage (the voltages observed in such a manner are negative with respect to the oscilloscope reference). When the oscilloscope triggers, the resulting voltage waveform due to the arc can be observed and one can also simultaneously observe the current by means of an appropriate current probe. Systems have been developed that emulate this method of detecting arcs and which count the number of occurrences so obtained over the course of a processing step. A known shortcoming of this approach is that the fixed trigger level must be set conservatively, as the chamber voltage varies periodically with magnet rotation as discussed above, as well as varying over the course of a PVD processing step due to thermal and other considerations. As such, such a system may miss arcs of small magnitude, which nonetheless cause damage. A system that can more closely follow the actual, instantaneous expected chamber voltage would permit these arcs to be detected more readily, providing a more accurate estimate of damage.

[0013] In the PVD process used to produce integrated circuits, arcing conditions lasting less than 1 microsecond are commonly observed. These short duration arcs are commonly called microarcs. Electronically controlled analog or switching power supplies cannot react to this rapid change in chamber impedance during a microarc. As a natural consequence of the series inductance, the power supply delivers a near constant current to the chamber during a microarc. Assuming that during an arcing condition, all energy delivered by the power supply is focused on the arc, the energy delivered to an individual arc can be estimated by the integral of the product of the power supply voltage times the (assumed constant) current over the interval of the arc. Again, digital oscilloscopes exist that permit the capture of both the chamber voltage and current waveforms during an arcing condition. Computer software, such as Tektronix “Wavestar” software, exists that can permit a digitally stored waveform to be uploaded to a computer, where the captured voltage and current waveforms can be subsequently multiplied point by point to compute instantaneous power and that power waveform integrated over the duration of the arc to determine the overall energy delivered by an arc.

[0014] While useful for gaining an understanding of the arcing phenomenon in PVD applications, this method of computing arcs and arc energy using an oscilloscope and a post processing computer is of little value in production applications. Even modern handheld oscilloscopes are relatively bulky instruments, and real estate in an integrated circuit clean room is extremely valuable. A stand alone post processing computer also takes up valuable floor space and would likely need to be located outside the clean room and connected to the oscilloscope by a network, adding latency in the transfer of data between the oscilloscope and computer. Furthermore, there is no means to tell a-priori the duration of an individual arc, or the frequency at which they might occur, leaving the problem of exactly how to set the controls of the oscilloscope. Oscilloscopes also have limited waveform storage capability, and therefore prone to losing information at the times in which it is needed most, when there is much arcing activity during a process. A system so configured would render real time control and decision making impractical.

[0015] Various aspects of the present invention address the above-mentioned deficiencies and also provide for arc detection methods and arrangements that are useful for other applications as well.

SUMMARY

[0016] The present invention is directed to an apparatus and method for detecting arcs during plasma generation that addresses the above-mentioned challenges and that provides a feedback method for controlling film deposition processes. The present invention is exemplified in a number of implementations and applications, some of which are summarized below.

[0017] According to one example embodiment of the present invention, a plasma generation apparatus includes an arc detection arrangement communicatively coupled to a power supply circuit. The power supply circuit has a cathode enclosed in a chamber, and is adapted to generate a power-related parameter. The arc detection arrangement is adapted to assess the severity of arcing in the chamber by comparing the power-related parameter to at least one threshold.

[0018] According to other aspects of the present invention, the arc detection arrangement is adapted to estimate arc intensity, arc duration and/or arc energy.

[0019] According to another example embodiment of the present invention, the arc detection arrangement is implemented using a programmable logic controller (PLC).

[0020] According to another example embodiment of the present invention, the PLC operates in concert with the arc detection arrangement to compute an adaptive arc threshold value responsive to normal variations in the impedance of the PVD chamber, said real time adaptive arc threshold value communicated by the PLC to the arc detection apparatus in near real time.

[0021] According to another example embodiment of the present invention, the adaptive arc threshold value responsive to normal variations in the impedance of the PVD chamber is computed by the arc detection arrangement itself, with statistical data regarding both arcing activity and the adaptive arc threshold function communicated to the PLC in near real time.

[0022] The above summary of the present invention is not intended to describe each illustrated embodiment or every implementation of the present invention. The figures and detailed description that follow more particularly exemplify these embodiments.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0023] The invention may be more completely understood in consideration of the detailed description of various embodiments of the invention, which follows in connection with the accompanying drawings. These drawings include:

[0024]FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating one example embodiment of an arc detection arrangement, according to the present invention.

[0025]FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating one example implementation of a power supply interface module (PSIM) portion of an arc detection arrangement, according to the present invention.

[0026]FIG. 3 is a circuit diagram illustrating one example implementation of a PSIM voltage sensing circuit portion of an arc detection arrangement, according to the present invention.

[0027]FIG. 4 is a circuit diagram illustrating one example implementation of a PSIM current sensing circuit portion of an arc detection arrangement, according to the present invention.

[0028]FIG. 5 is a circuit diagram illustrating one example implementation of a PSIM power supply circuit portion of an arc detection arrangement, according to the present invention.

[0029]FIG. 6 is a block diagram illustrating one example implementation of an arc detector unit (ADU) portion of an arc detection arrangement, according to the present invention.

[0030]FIG. 7 is a circuit diagram illustrating one example implementation of an ADU voltage filter portion of an arc detection arrangement, according to the present invention.

[0031]FIG. 8 is a circuit diagram illustrating one example implementation of an ADU programmable threshold comparator portion of an arc detection arrangement, according to the present invention.

[0032]FIG. 9 is a block diagram illustrating one example implementation of an ADU arc detection logic unit (ADLU) portion of an arc detection arrangement, according to the present invention.

[0033]FIG. 10 is a block diagram illustrating one example implementation of an ADLU counter unit portion of an arc detection arrangement, according to the present invention.

[0034]FIG. 11 is a timing diagram illustrating one example implementation of clock logic unit (CLU) clock generation, according to the present invention.

[0035]FIG. 12 is a logic diagram illustrating one example implementation of an ADLU digital signal processing interface logic arrangement portion of an arc detection arrangement, according to the present invention.

[0036] While the invention is amenable to various modifications and alternative forms, specifics thereof have been shown by way of example in the drawings and will be described in detail. It should be understood, however, that the intention is not to limit the invention to the particular embodiments described. On the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0037] The present invention is believed to be applicable to a variety of different types of plasma generation applications, and has been found to be particularly useful for film deposition applications, the latter benefiting from a technique for responding to detected arcs during the generation of a plasma environment. Example embodiments described herein involve PVD sputtering techniques; however, the present invention can be implemented in connection with a variety of systems, including those using plasma-generating techniques such as plasma etching or Plasma Enhanced Chemical Vapor Deposition system (PECVD).

[0038] While arcing events may never be wholly avoided, obtaining certain detailed data regarding the severity of arcs occurring during a sputtering process provides useful information from which compensatory-process decisions can be made. For instance, through real-time detection of a single arc of small magnitude, one might suspect the presence of minimal defects due to arcing on an affected integrated circuit die. Conversely, from real-time detection of a large quantity of arcs, or arcs of high severity, one might suspect the presence of many defects, perhaps even reach a conclusion that an entire processing step is defective. Real time arc detection according to the present invention permits manufacturing decisions to occur in real time, or nearly so. For example, where a processing step is suspected as being defective due to detection of significant quantity or severity of arcing, the PVD process step may be terminated before further damage can occur. At the end of a PVD processing step, whether completed normally or terminated per above a decision to repair or discard the wafer can be made before further processing steps are initiated. If an initial processing step is deemed defective through real-time detection of significant arcing, and processing costs to the present stage of manufacturing the wafer are low, it may be cost-effective to discard the wafer. If arcing occurs during a latter processing step, for which the cost of processing a wafer to the affected step is high, it may be cost-effective to chemically etch or physically polish the wafer to remove the defective deposition layer and re-process the wafer. Additionally, detection of arcing activity on a wafer to wafer basis of an individual PVD system in which no or minimal previous arcing activity is observed may be indicative of the development of an incipient equipment fault condition that can be corrected by scheduling appropriate equipment maintenance during scheduled equipment inactivity. The key is timely recognition of the increased probability of defects due to arcing.

[0039] For a particular PVD system, the power supply to drive the process attempts to regulate power delivered to the chamber. The impedance of the chamber elements, including the anode, cathode and chamber environment between the anode and cathode, is in series with the impedance of the plasma-generating power supply circuit. The relation between voltage and current to maintain a constant power in a plasma is dependent upon the impedance of the chamber elements, including the conductivity of the particular target material itself which is subject to change as a result of the sputtering process.

[0040] When an arc develops in the sputtering chamber, the magnitude of the impedance of the chamber drops rapidly, thereby changing the impedance of the plasma-generating power supply circuit. The power supply and distribution circuit contains significant series inductance, limiting the rate at which current can change in the circuit. A rapid drop in chamber impedance therefore causes a rapid decrease in the magnitude of chamber voltage due to this inductive component. This collapse in chamber voltage magnitude is often sufficient to extinguish the arcing condition and re-establish a glow discharge before serious damage to the chamber, the power supply, or the target can result. Typically, arcing events occur (and disappear) more quickly than the electronics regulating the power supply are able to react, so even if corrective action is initiated by the electronics, some damage to the wafer is possible. As discussed previously, the probability that an item being coated will suffer some form of defect, such as a non-uniform coating on a wafer, increases as a result of each arcing event. Because the chamber voltage drops rapidly when an arcing event occurs, an unexpected voltage drop below a pre-defined or adaptive voltage threshold level can be used to define the occurrence of an arcing condition.

[0041] The voltage threshold delineating the existence of an arcing event is dependent upon the nominally applied (i.e., non-arcing), perhaps time varying chamber voltage according to one example implementation. The non-arcing chamber voltage applied to produce a glow discharge is dependent on many factors including the condition and composition of the target (which affects circuit impedance). All other circuit impedances remaining constant, a higher chamber voltage is required to produce a glow discharge using a relatively less-conductive target material, conversely a lower chamber voltage is required to produce a glow discharge using a relatively-higher conductive target material. For example in one sputtering chamber implementation, the chamber voltage required to uniformly deposit aluminum is nearly twice the chamber voltage required to deposit copper. The chamber voltage required to uniformly deposit aluminum can also vary from chamber to chamber, being dependent on the balance of circuit impedance including the power supply and other chamber elements. Furthermore, as the target ages and more material is sputtered, the power required to maintain a uniform deposition rate must be modified (e.g., increased). As the required applied voltage changes, it follows that the associated threshold voltage at which an arcing condition is determined should also be changed.

[0042] According to a general example embodiment of the present invention, a plasma generation apparatus includes an arc detection arrangement communicatively coupled to a power supply circuit. The power supply circuit has a cathode enclosed in a chamber, and the power supply circuit is adapted to generate a power-related parameter (e.g., a voltage signal). The arc detection arrangement is adapted to assess the severity of arcing in the chamber by comparing the power-related parameters to at least one threshold. Parameters determining arcing severity are process-dependent and include, but are not limited to, arc quantity, arc rate, arc intensity, arc duration, and/or arc energy.

[0043] According to one implementation, the arc detection arrangement for a sputtering process monitors a sputtering chamber voltage and detects an arcing condition whenever the chamber voltage magnitude drops below a preset arc voltage threshold value.

[0044] According to one aspect, the power-related parameter (e.g., voltage) threshold value is variable over a range of power-related parameter values. Any threshold may be programmable, and may be controlled by a logic arrangement, for example being electronically controlled by a remote logic arrangement. In one example implementation, the voltage threshold value demarking an arc occurrence is computed in response to an estimate of nominal chamber voltage magnitude, the nominal chamber voltage magnitude being the chamber voltage necessary to produce a glow discharge (i.e., generate a plasma) during non-arcing conditions. In one example implementation, any threshold may be hysteretic, or programmed to be hysteretic having a “reset” value different from a “surpass” value.

[0045] According to one aspect of the present invention, the arc detection arrangement is further adapted to count arcing conditions (events) responsive to the at least one threshold. A rate of detected arcing condition occurrences may be determined therefrom.

[0046] According to another aspect, the arc detection arrangement is further adapted to measure arcing duration responsive to comparing the power-related parameter to the at least one threshold. For example, the arc detection arrangement includes a clock and a digital counting arrangement in one implementation. The clock provides a clock signal having a fixed period, and the digital counting arrangement is adapted to count the clock signal periods responsive to comparing the power-related parameter to at least one threshold. According to a further aspect of the present invention, the duration of arcing conditions is assessed by comparing the power-related parameter to at least one threshold. According to one example implementation, the duration of arcing conditions is accumulated over a fixed period. According to another example implementation, the duration of arcing conditions is accumulated until the duration threshold is reached, or until the accumulated duration is reset.

[0047] According to another aspect, the arc detection arrangement is further adapted to measure arcing intensity responsive to comparing the power-related parameter to the at least one threshold. In one example implementation, the arc detection arrangement is adapted to compare the power-related parameter to a plurality of thresholds arranged at different values thereby ascertaining the extent or range of change (from nominal) to the power-related parameter during an arcing event. In one example embodiment, the threshold corresponding to the largest observed voltage magnitude drop provides a lower bound to the energy estimate, while the next larger voltage drop threshold (which the system is observed to not exceed) provides an upper bound to the energy estimate.

[0048] According to another example embodiment of the present invention, the arc detection arrangement is adapted to measure arcing duration and intensity responsive to comparing the power-related parameter to the at least one threshold. In one implementation, the arc detection arrangement is further adapted to measure arcing energy responsive to comparing the power-related parameter to the at least one threshold, arcing energy being proportional to the product of the arcing duration and the arcing intensity, and assessment of arcing severity being a function of the arcing energy (i.e., the product of arcing intensity and arcing duration). According to one particular implementation, a plurality of thresholds are used to determine a plurality of durations, in order to estimate (i.e., approximate, or integrate) an area bounded by a power-related parameter (e.g., chamber voltage) versus time plot during a depression in the voltage due to arcing. An arcing energy proportional to the bounded area for each arcing event is used to assess the severity of arcing. According to a further implementation, the arc detection arrangement is further adapted to accumulate arcing energy over a plurality of arcing events, for example by summing the products of arcing intensity and arcing duration to assess the severity of arcing.

[0049] According to another example implementation, the arc detection arrangement includes a power-related parameter band-limiting filter as a means to prevent aliasing prior to digitizing the power-related parameter. Commonly understood digital signal processing techniques are applied to this digitized power-related parameter to reduce or accentuate certain frequency response characteristics of the power-related parameter. This digitally signal processed parameter may then be compared directly against a similarly digitized version of the at least one threshold.

[0050] According to another example implementation, a digitally signal processed parameter per above is used to compute at least one time varying threshold value, responsive to certain observed characteristics of one or more power-related parameter over the course of the PVD process.

[0051] According to another example embodiment of the present invention, a plurality of power-related parameters are compared to a plurality of thresholds in assessing the severity of arcing as described above. For example, in addition to chamber voltage, power supply current is monitored and used in detecting arcing events, an arcing event being determined whenever the current magnitude exceeds a preset current threshold value.

[0052] According to another example embodiment of the present invention, a logic arrangement is communicatively coupled to the arc detection arrangement, and adapted to process the arcing data collected by the arc detection arrangement. In one implementation, the logic arrangement is adapted to interface with the arc detection arrangement, the logic arrangement having a data network and additional external devices such as process controllers, monitors and logic arrangements. In one particular application, the logic arrangement is a programmable logic controller (PLC).

[0053] According to another example embodiment of the present invention, arc severity in a plasma generation chamber is assessed by timing an arc duration, which is derived by comparing a power-related parameter to at least one arc intensity threshold, and adding the arc duration to an accumulated arcing duration. Further example implementations of the method include measuring the power-related parameter during non-arcing plasma generation and automatically adjusting the arc intensity threshold(s) responsive to measuring the power-related parameter; counting arc occurrences; and/or assessing arc severity as a function of arc intensity, arc duration and/or the product thereof.

[0054] According to another embodiment of the present invention, arcing severity in a plasma generation chamber is assessed by determining an arc intensity, which is derived by: comparing a power-related parameter to at least one arc intensity threshold, timing an arc duration responsive to comparing a power-related parameter to at least one arc intensity threshold, computing arc energy as a function of arc intensity and arc duration, and then adding the arc energy to an accumulated arcing energy. Further example implementations of the method include measuring the power-related parameter during non-arcing plasma generation and automatically adjusting the at least one arc intensity threshold responsive to measuring the power-related parameter; counting arc occurrences responsive to comparing the power-related parameter to the at least one arc intensity threshold; and/or employing a hysteretic arc intensity threshold; and/or transmitting information representative of arcing to a logic arrangement on command via a shared data path, the information being one selected from a group that includes quantity of arc occurrences and accumulated arcing duration. The power-related parameter is a function of plasma generation chamber voltage in one particular implementation; the power-related parameter being formed as a digital representation of plasma generation chamber's operating characteristics in another implementation.

[0055] In describing the following particular example embodiment of the present invention, reference will be made herein to FIGS. 1-12 of the drawings in which like numerals refer to like features of the invention.

[0056]FIG. 1 illustrates an example embodiment of an arc detection arrangement 100 of the present invention. Arc detection arrangement 100 is used, for example, in a pressure vapor deposition (PVD) process step in integrated circuit manufacture and other processes where uniform material deposition is desired. A PVD sputtering system includes a deposition (vacuum) chamber 10 containing a gas 15, such as argon, at low pressure. A target 20 formed of metal is placed in vacuum chamber 10 and electrically coupled as a cathode to a power supply 30 via an independent power supply interface module (PSIM) 40. According to one example implementation, power supply 30 and chamber 10 are coupled using a coaxial interconnecting cable 35. A substrate (wafer) 25 is coupled as an anode to power supply 30 through a ground connection. The vacuum chamber is also typically coupled to ground potential. According to another example implementation, the anode is coupled to power supply 30 directly. Rotating magnet 27 is included to steer the plasma to maintain uniform target wear. PSIM 40 includes a buffered voltage attenuator 44 adapted to sense the chamber voltage and provide an analog signal to an Arc Detection Unit (ADU) 50 via voltage signal path 42 responsive to the chamber voltage. The PSIM also includes a Hall effect-based current sensor 46 adapted to sense the current flowing to the chamber and provide an analog signal via current signal path 48 to the ADU responsive to the chamber current. In another example implementation, the target is formed of an insulating material. ADU 50 is communicatively coupled to a logic arrangement 60, for example a programmable logic controller (PLC) or communication tophat via a local data interface 70. Logic arrangement 60 may be coupled to a data network 80, for example a high level process control network such as an EG Modbus-Plus TCP-IP on Ethernet.

[0057] An electric field is generated between the target (cathode) and anode by the power supply causing the gas in the vacuum chamber to ionize. Ionized gas atoms (i.e., plasma) are accelerated across the potential of the electric field and impact the target at high speed, causing molecules of the target material to be physically separated from the target, or “sputtered.” The ejected molecules travel virtually unimpeded through the low pressure gas and plasma striking the substrate and forming a coating of target material on the substrate. Typical target voltage for sputtering aluminum is a steady state magnitude of approximately 450 volts dc (VDC).

[0058]FIG. 2 illustrates one example embodiment of PSIM 40. PSIM 40 derives signals representative to the chamber voltage and current. Coaxial cable 35 electrically couples the power supply to the chamber. Cable 35 has an outer conductor 210 nominally at ground (earth) potential, and a center conductor 215 biased negatively with respect to the outer conductor. Current in cable 35 is measured using a Hall effect transducer 220 or other current transducing device. Transducer 220 is arranged to selectively measure current flowing in center conductor 215, indicative of the total current flowing to the chamber. Center conductor 215 of cable 35 passes through an aperture 225 in Hall effect transducer 220. To expose center conductor 215, outer conductor 210 is interrupted near transducer 220, and outer conductor current is directed around aperture 225 via current shunt 230 coupled to outer conductor 210. The arrangement of Hall effect transducer 220 simplifies packaging of the PSIM while simultaneously providing a high level of galvanic isolation between cable 35 and the output signals of transducer 220. The present invention is not limited to using a Hall effect transducer. Other means for deriving a signal responsive to the current flowing from chamber 10 to power supply 30 are contemplated, including but not limited to an arrangement including a current shunt with appropriate voltage isolation, and means based on certain piezo-resistive current transducers.

[0059] Transducer 220 has a first output terminal 222 carrying current signal I− and a second output terminal 224 carrying current signal I+. First and second transducer output terminals are electrically coupled to an Isense circuit arrangement 240, first transducer output terminal 222 being coupled to Isense circuit first input terminal 242, and second transducer output terminal 22 4 being coupled to Isense circuit second input terminal 244. Isense circuit arrangement 240 also has a first output terminal 246 carrying signal IPSIM−, and a second output terminal 248 carrying signal IPSIM+. Isense circuit receives current signals I+and I−, and generates a differential voltage between signals IPSIM+ and IPSIM− responsive to the current flowing from the chamber to the power supply.

[0060] Vsense circuit 250 measures the potential difference between center conductor 215 and outer conductor 210, and generates a differential responsive to the potential difference. The Vsense circuit includes a first input terminal 252 coupled to inner conductor 215 and carrying voltage signal V−. The Vsense circuit also includes a second input terminal 254 coupled to outer conductor 210 and carrying voltage signal V+. The Vsense circuit has a first output terminal 256 carrying output voltage signal VPSIM−, and a second output terminal 258 carrying output voltage signal VPSIM+.

[0061] Coaxial cable 35, connecting power supply 30 to vacuum chamber 10, is terminated in standard commercial UHF type connectors in one example implementation. According to one aspect of the present invention, the mechanical packaging of PSIM 40 is arranged and configured such that cable 35 can be de-terminated at one end, inserted through aperture 225 of PSIM 40 and re-terminated to complete a circuit between power supply 30 and chamber 10. In an alternate implementation, PSIM 40 includes UHF type connectors so that PSIM 40 can be inserted in the circuit of cable 35 between power supply 30 and chamber 10.

[0062]FIG. 3 illustrates one example implementation of Vsense circuit 250 to provide differential output voltage signals responsive to the instantaneous voltage difference between the cathode and anode of the PVD system. The example Vsense circuit illustrated in FIG. 3 provides for a very high impedance between the voltage signals present at its input terminals and the voltage signals provided at its output terminals. The positive input voltage signal 254 (V+) is derived from the outer conductor 210, and the negative voltage signal 252 (V−) is derived from inner conductor 215 of power supply cable 35.

[0063] According to the example implementation illustrated, resistor networks R3 and R4 provide an attenuation factor of 500:1 to each respective input voltage signal with respect to a reference plane, GNDANALOG. Each of the resistor networks R3 and R4 have a nominal resistance of approximately 20 Megaohms between the network sense terminal (pin 1) and the reference plane (pin 3). Resistive networks R3 and R4 can be implemented using, for example, thick film high voltage divider networks such as Ohmcraft P/N CN-470. An applied voltage of 1000 volts between 252 (V+) and 254 (V−) causes a current of 25 microamperes to flow into pin 1 of R4 and out of pin 1 of R3. Pin 3 of each of these voltage attenuators (i.e., resistive network) is coupled to the reference plane, GNDANALOG. Since each of the voltage attenuators provide a 500:1 attenuation, a differential voltage measured between pins 2 of each resistive network (i.e., between attenuated signal VPSA+ at pin 2 of R4 and attenuated signal VPSA− at pin 2 of R3) are attenuated by 500:1, and this measurement is independent of the voltage difference between either V+ and GNDANALOG, or V− and GNDANALOG.

[0064] The PVD sputtering chamber 10 has radio frequency (RF) energy applied in one example implementation, to stabilize the plasma. Capacitors C2, C3 and C5 of Vsense circuit 250 significantly attenuates (i.e., filters) this high frequency “noise”. According to one example implementation, the combination of C2 and R3 has an effective pole at about 22 kHz.

[0065] As discussed above, the differential voltage appearing between VPSA− and VPSA+ is a band limited representation of the signal appearing between V− and V+, with a nominal DC attenuation factor of 500:1. The equivalent DC Thevenin source impedance between VPSA− and VPSA+ is high (on the order of 80 kOhms) and therefore not suitable for transmission over large distances or into low impedance loads. Therefore, a differential instrumentation operational amplifier U2; for example an LT1920 instrumentation operational amplifier, is incorporated in the Vsense circuit to serve as a low impedance voltage follower. Operational Amplifier U2 provides high impedance inputs (pins 2 and 3), which will not significantly load the outputs of attenuators R3 and R4. Pin 2 of resistive network R3 is coupled to the inverting input (pin 2) of U2 and Pin 2 of resistive network R4 is coupled to the non-inverting input (pin 3) of U2. Resistor RG2 sets the voltage gain of U2 and is selected to yield a gain of 1 V/V in the example embodiment. The resulting output of U2 (pin 6) is a single ended low impedance voltage source relative to GNDANALOG that closely follows the voltage developed between VPSA− and VPSA+.

[0066] The output of U2 (pin 6) is coupled to the center terminal of a BNC type connector, J2, and carries the signal VPSIM+ 258. The outer connector of BNC type connector J2 carries signal VPSIM− 256 and is coupled to the reference plane GNDANALOG. The resulting differential voltage between signals VPSIM+ and VPSIM− is band limited with respect to the differential input signals V+ and V−, and has a nominal DC response of 2 mV/V.

[0067] In one embodiment, the Hall effect type DC current transducer 220 when coupled to an appropriate load impedance placed between signals 244 (I+) and 242 (I−) generates a current responsive to current flowing in inner power supply conductor 215. In one particular embodiment, using a model LA25-P Hall effect type DC current transducer manufactured by LEM, the current signal developed by DC current transducer 220 is approximately proportional to the total current passing through aperture 220 at a ratio of 1000:1. Thus a 1 ampere signal passing through aperture 220 generates a constant current of 1 mA flowing through an impedance placed between 244 (I+) and 242 (I−), within the limits of the DC current transducer design. FIG. 4 illustrates one example implementation of a current sensing arrangement, Isense circuit 240 that generates a voltage responsive to the current developed by the example LA25-P Hall effect type DC current transducer. In this example, signal I− is coupled to the reference plane GNDANALOG of PSIM 40. An impedance comprising 100 Ohm resistor R6 in parallel with a low pass filter comprising resistor R7 and capacitor C10 is coupled between I+ and I−. Ignoring the relative high impedance of the low pass filter, the current I+ flows through resistor R6 and returns to current transducer 220 through I−. The net result of the circuit comprising current transducer 220 and resistor R6 is a voltage across R6 proportional to the current flowing through aperture 222, with the constant of proportionality 100 mV/Ampere. The low pass filter comprising resistor R7 and C10 has a nominal 3 dB cutoff frequency of 23 kHz, which serves to remove any stray noise from the current signal, including the aforementioned RF component sometimes included to stabilize the glow discharge. The low pass filter output, V_(IL) in FIG. 4, is a band limited representation of the voltage developed across R6 by current transducer 220. An instrument amplifier U3, such as an LT1920, serves as a low impedance voltage follower responsive to the signal V_(IL) by coupling V_(IL) to the non-inverting input (pin 3) of U3, with inverting input of U3 (pin 2) coupled to GNDANALOG through resistor R5. Resistor RG1 serves to set the gain of instrumentation amplifier U3 to 1 V/V in the present example. The output terminal (pin 6) of U3 carries signal IPSIM+ and is coupled to the center conductor of a BNC type connector, J3. The outer conductor of BNC type connector J3 is coupled to GNDANALOG and designated signal IPSIM−. The voltage developed between IPSIM+ and IPSIM− is consequently a signal responsive to the current flowing in aperture 220, band limited to a cutoff frequency of approximately 23 kHz and with a constant of proportionality of approximately 100 mV/Ampere.

[0068]FIG. 5 illustrates one example implementation of a PSIM power supply circuit 500 (not shown in FIG. 2) and required to bias instrumentation operational amplifiers U2 and U3. A dual power supply module U1, for example Astrodyne model FDC10-24D15, generates the nominal +15 VDC and −15 VDC used to bias PSIM amplifiers U2, U3, and current sensor CS1. Module U1 derives its bias power from an external nominal 24 VDC power source through connector J1, pins 1 and 3, pin 1 being biased more positively than pin 3. Pin 3 of connector J1 is coupled to the −Vin terminal of power supply module U1. Pin 3 of connector J1 is coupled to the +Vin terminal of power supply module U1 through a Schottky Barrier Diode D2 to protect module U1 from damage should the polarity of power supplied to connector J1 be accidentally reversed.

[0069] Power supply module U1 has three output terminals, +Vo, −Vo and Com. A +15 VDC signal is provided at terminal +Vo and a −15 VDC signal is provided at terminal-Vo. Vo. Terminal Com is coupled to the reference plane GNDANALOG. Pin 2 of connector J1 is also coupled to GNDANALOG as a common potential in the application as required. Resistors R1 and R2 and light-emitting diode D1 are coupled in series between the +15 VDC bias voltage and the −15 VDC bias voltage to provide an indication that PSIM power supply circuit 500 is operational.

[0070] Arcing is defined as a collapse in the chamber voltage magnitude that crosses a threshold voltage. Upon occurrence of an arc, the chamber (target) voltage magnitude rapidly decreases (i.e., is closer to ground potential), and chamber current increases more slowly due to series inductance, from steady state (i.e., non-arcing) conditions. The programmed threshold voltage is a predetermined chamber voltage at or below which an arcing state is determined and may be a constant value or a time varying function of the nominal, expected, possibly time varying chamber voltage. A non-arcing state is determined to occur when the chamber voltage is above the threshold voltage. According to an alternate example implementation, the threshold voltage is determined from a period including a non-arcing state, and an arcing state is defined to occur whenever the chamber voltage is below the voltage threshold. Multiple threshold voltages can be used to determine the magnitude of an arc (i.e., voltage dip or “severity”). For example, an arc that crosses a −200V threshold but not a −100V threshold may be considered less severe than an arc that crosses both thresholds.

[0071] The ADU 50 includes a digital signal processor to processes the signals received from the PSIM to provide digitally-filtered representations (e.g., digital signals), of the chamber voltage and current signals respectively, to a logic arrangement. According to one example implementation, the ADU includes an analog-to-digital converter (A/D).

[0072] The ADU is further adapted to set at least one programmable arc threshold voltage. In a further implementation, the ADU is also adapted to set at least one hysteresis threshold voltage. According to one aspect, the respective thresholds can be set at any point along a continuous spectrum; this can be affected via a potentiometer setting controlling a comparator circuit arrangement. According to another example implementation, the respective thresholds are set digitally via a digital to analog converter, or via a plurality of discrete threshold levels achieved by switching specific circuit components into a comparator circuit arrangement, for example by selecting the configuration of a resistive network. To identify the hysteresis threshold(s), the ADU provides a programmable hysteresis function to detect arcs that manifest themselves slowly. Both the arc (voltage) threshold and hysteresis function can be set or programmed directly in the ADU, or the threshold values may be optionally controlled by a remote device communicatively coupled to the ADU, for example through a standard Momentum communication tophat via a Ethernet, Modbus Plus, Devicenet, or other data network. In one example implementation, the ADU is tightly coupled to a programmable logic controller (PLC) such as a Momentum M1-E via a high speed proprietary serial interface, and the PLC can be programmed to continuously adapt the arc voltage threshold and hysteresis function in real time according to a real time adaptive algorithm.

[0073]FIG. 6 illustrates one example embodiment of an Arc Detector Unit (ADU) based on a Digital Signal Processor and Controller (DSPC) 630, which includes a digital signal processor (DSP) integrated circuit, such as model TMS320F2407 available from Texas Instruments, Inc., of Dallas, Tex., and additional commercially available integrated circuit devices used to develop signals to control and communicate with external devices. An example of such a device is an address decoder commonly used to divide the address space of a DSP into ranges and select one of a plurality of external integrated circuit devices for data transfer to and from the DSP. Development of these signals using integrated circuits is in accordance with the timing requirements of the digital signal processor when accessing external devices and is well understood by those skilled in the art of designing and implementing microprocessor and microcontroller based systems.

[0074] The DSP illustrated includes 16 analog input channels that can be sampled and digitized by an integral 10-bit analog to digital converter 635. Signals presented to these analog input channels, such as the signals I_(CH) 616 and V_(CH) 614, to be discussed subsequently, can be sampled and digitized by the DSP at a user programmable rate. In one example implementation, this rate is programmable up to 10 kHz per channel. In another example implementation, a software program executed within the DSP provides for the selection and application of one of a plurality of digital finite impulse response filters to the sampled data signals. DSPC 630 also provides control signals to a Programmable Threshold Comparator function 620 to set the threshold and hysteresis values of the Programmable Threshold Comparator. In addition, DSPC 630 provides control and data paths to and from a high speed Arc Detector Logic Unit (ADLU) 640, which works in conjunction with Programmable Threshold Comparator 620 to accumulate arc statistics such as number of arcs and total arc time. DSPC 630 communicates with an external logic arrangement 60, such as a networked communication tophat or Programmable Logic Controller (PLC), via local data interface 70, for example a proprietary ATII interface. Examples of information that can be furnished from the ADU to the external logic arrangement 60 are the filtered chamber voltage and current, the number of individual arcing events and other values indicative of arc severity, as determined by Arc Detector Logic Unit 640. Examples of data that can be accepted by the ADU from the external logic arrangement are the instantaneous arc threshold voltage and hysteresis, and logical control signals that control the Arc Detector Logic Unit.

[0075] The fundamental sensed process inputs of Arc Detector Unit 50 are the differential output signals from the Vsense circuit (VPSIM+ and VPSIM−) and the Isense circuit (IPSIM+ and IPSIM−) of PSIM 40. Referring again to FIG. 6, these signals drive analog signal conditioner 610. Analog signal conditioner 610 converts the respective differential analog signals to single ended signals usable by the rest of the ADU. Signal conditioner 610 also provides band limiting filters for the respective input analog signals so that DSPC 630 can apply digital signal sampling and processing algorithms without the phenomenon commonly called “aliasing”. Analog signal conditioner 610 includes three output terminals, output terminal 612 providing signal V_(CH)′, output terminal 614 providing signal V_(CH), and output terminal 616 providing signal I_(CH). Signal V_(CH)′ is a single-ended version of the signal emanating from the PSIM and derived from the signals V_(PSIM)+ and V_(PSIM)−, and feeds a Programmable Threshold Comparator 620. The signal V_(CH) is a band-limited, single-ended version of the differential signals VPSIM+ and VPSIM−, developed by Vsense circuit 250 of PSIM 40. The signal I_(CH) is a band-limited, single-ended version of the differential signals IPSIM+ and IPSIM− developed by Isense circuit 240 PSIM 40. Signals I_(CH) and V_(CH) are input to analog to digital converter 635 of DSPC 630. Processing performed on these analog signals by Digital Signal Processor and Controller 630 will be discussed in more detail subsequently.

[0076]FIG. 7 illustrates one example implementation of a voltage filter portion 700 of signal conditioner 610 using commercially available quad operational amplifier integrated circuits, such as Analog Devices model AD824 for U27:A-D. Amplifier U27A and resistors R108, R107, R115 and R116 form a differential amplifier that converts the differential voltage between V_(PSIM1)+ and V_(PSIM1)−, to a single ended voltage relative to the reference plane GNDANALOG at the output (pin 1) of amplifier U27A. The output of amplifier U27A is signal 612 in FIG. 6, and labeled V_(CH)′. V_(CH)′ couples to the internal network comprising amplifiers U27B, U27C and U27D and the remaining passive resistors, which form a six-pole Butterworth filter with a 3 dB crossover at approximately 2500 Hz. The output of this filter, labeled 614 (V_(CH)) in FIG. 6, is the signal provided to the analog to digital converter 635 of DSPC 630. Assuming a 10 kHz sample rate of analog to digital converter 635, the 6 pole Butterworth filter, shown in FIG. 7, attenuates signals above the Nyquist rate of 5 kHz at better than −80 dB, thus minimizing the effects of aliased signals on the sampled voltage signals.

[0077] The current filter portion of signal conditioner 610 that generates signal I_(CH) from PSIM signals IPSIM+ and IPSIM− is identical in topology to that of the voltage filter, but the current signal equivalent to V_(CH)′ is not used in the example embodiment. The output of the current filter, I_(CH) is similarly band limited by an identical Butterworth filter with 3 dB crossover at approximately 2500 Hz.

[0078] Referring again to FIG. 6, functionally Programmable Threshold Comparator 620 compares signal V_(CH)′, responsive to the magnitude of the difference between the chamber voltage signals from the PSIM, against a programmable voltage value set and controlled by DSPC 630. The output 622 of Programmable Threshold Comparator 620 is the signal \ARC. Programmable Threshold Comparator 622 asserts \ARC a logic “1” value whenever the sensed differential chamber voltage magnitude exceeds the programmed threshold value and a logic “0” value whenever the sensed differential chamber voltage magnitude is less than the programmed threshold value. A programmable hysteresis is applied to the programmed threshold value in a manner to be described subsequently, to minimize the effects of a noisy V_(CH)′ signal applied to Programmable Threshold Comparator 620. Hereinafter, the condition in which the signal \ARC (i.e., “not ARC”) is in the logic “0” state (chamber voltage below a predefined threshold) is referred to as the ARCING condition and the condition in which the \ARC signal is in the “1” state (chamber voltage above a predefined threshold) is referred to as the NON_ARCING condition.

[0079]FIG. 8 illustrates one example implementation of a Programmable Threshold Comparator 620. Programmable Threshold Comparator 620 includes a commercially available analog comparator integrated circuit U12:A, such as an LM319M. GNDANALOG is the analog reference plane; DGND is a digital reference plane used by the logic signals of DSPC 630 and other devices and integrated circuit bias voltage is at +5 V. Functionally, analog comparator U12:A has an output terminal (pin 12), an inverting input terminal 1IN− (pin 5), and a non-inverting input terminal 1IN+ (pin 4). The output terminal (pin 12) of U12:A generates signal 622 in FIG. 6 and labeled \ARC. Nominally, the logic signal present at the output terminal is denoted as logic “1” whenever the signal at the non-inverting input is at a higher voltage than the signal at the inverting input terminal. Conversely, the logic signal present at the output terminal is a logic “0” whenever the signal at the non-inverting input is at a lower voltage than the signal at the inverting input terminal. The signal present at the output terminal whenever the two respective signals at the input terminals are identical is undefined. In an embodiment of the present application, device U12:A is arranged to have an open collector output. Resistor R27 is a pull-up resistor, coupled to a +3.3 V bias supply used to power the DSP, ADLU and other circuitry. Resistor R25 is nominally 200 k-ohms and provides a minimum level of hysteresis to analog comparator U12:A to effect smooth logic state transitions without oscillation when U12:A encounters slowly varying input signals. Resistors R28, R29 and R26 along with a precision 3.00 volt reference voltage source connected to R26 provide an affine transformation of the scaled, instantaneous chamber voltage signal V_(CH)′, of the form:

V _(CS)=0.6V _(CH)+1.0   (Eqn. 1)

[0080] where V_(CS) is that signal appearing on the non-inverting input, pin 4 of analog comparator U12:A in FIG. 8. Thus, according to Eqn. 1, a 0 V signal at V_(CH)′ appears as a 1 V signal at pin 4 of analog comparator U12:A, and a 2.5 V signal at V_(CH)′ appears as a 2.5 V signal at pin 4 of analog comparator U12:A. This affine transformation is applied to maintain the inputs of analog comparator U12:A within a range required by the analog comparator manufacturer to guarantee linear operation over a range of chamber operating voltages between 0 and −1250 volts. In one particular embodiment, the 3.00 volt reference for the internal analog to digital converter is provided by a commercially available bandgap regulator, Model REF193, manufactured by National Semiconductor.

[0081] Programmable threshold voltage signal, V_(TH), is provided to the inverting input of analog comparator U12:A (pin 5) to set the chamber voltage at which the ADU transitions between the NON_ARCING and ARCING states. A programmable hysteresis value, generated in a manner to be described subsequently, permits the value of V_(TH) to be modal. A user specified value can be programmed to set the chamber voltage magnitude, V_(THNA), at which the system transitions from the NON_ARCING to the ARCING state and a second voltage magnitude value, V_(THAN), to set the voltage at which the system transitions from the ARCING to the NON_ARCING state. Device U13 is a dual 14-bit digital to analog converter (DAC), for example model AD5322 manufactured by Analog Devices, Inc., which is used to set the two values of V_(TH). It has two output terminals labeled, V_(O) _(—) _(A) and V_(O) _(—B) , the voltage values of which are set by the DSP using a standard serial peripheral interface (SPI) feature, integral to the DSP. The signals labeled SPISIMO, SPICLK, \DAC1_SELECT and \LDAC are signals used by DSPC 630 to program a digital value ranging between 0 and 4095 for each of the two DAC channels. The precision 3.00 Volt reference described above is applied to U13, with the result that each DAC output generates an independent, analog output in the range 0-3.00 volt, in proportion to the ratio of the programmed digital value to the maximum value 4095. Output terminal V_(O) _(—) _(B) (pin 6), generated from the value of DAC B of U13 is coupled to the non-inverting input of operational amplifier U14:A, and is labeled V_(OB). As will be shown subsequently, the signal V_(OB) determines the voltage threshold at which comparator U12:A transitions from the NON_ARCING to the ARCING state, V_(THNA). The signal V_(OA), generated by the output of DAC A of U13 (pin 5) is coupled to the input terminal of analog switch U15:D, and as will also be shown subsequently, is used along with signal V_(OB) to set the voltage threshold, V_(THAN) at which comparator U12:A transitions from the ARCING to NON_ARCING state. According to one example implementation, U15:D is part of a quad analog switch, for example DG201HS manufactured by Intersil and others. The output of this analog switch appears at pin 15 of U15:D and is labeled V_(SW) in FIG. 8.

[0082] The state transition threshold voltage V_(TH), is generated at output pin 1 of operational amplifier U14:A. Assuming an ideal operational amplifier U14:A, it is readily shown that the output signal V_(TH) is related to signal V_(OB) and the signal V_(SW) by:

V _(TH)=2V _(O) _(—) _(B) −V _(SW)   (Eqn. 2)

[0083] The instantaneous value of the signal V_(SW) is dependent upon the logic state of the switch control input (pin 16) of U15:D. When the signal at switch control input (pin 16) of analog switch U15:D is in a logic “0” state, V_(SW) follows signal V_(OA), generated by DAC U13 and connected to input terminal pin 14 of U15:D. When the control signal at switch control input (pin 16) of analog switch U15:D is in a logic “1” state, the circuitry driving output terminal, pin 15, of analog switch U15:D is placed in a very high impedance state and V_(SW) closely follows V_(OB) by virtue of the low resistance value of resistor R30 and the extremely small input bias current of operational amplifier U14.

[0084] The signal communicated to the switch control input of U15:D is provided by a logic OR gate U16:A. The input signals to OR gate U16:A are a hysteresis-enabling control output from DSPC 630 (\HYSEN) and the signal from the output of analog comparator U12:A, (pin 12). The logic state of signal \HYSEN is generated under DSP software control and is maintained in the logic “0” state under normal operation. The signal \HYSEN is set to a logic “1” state only during certain manufacturing system calibration and test procedures to isolate the hysteresis generating signal V_(OA) from V_(SW).

[0085] As discussed earlier, the value of V_(SW) and hence V_(TH) is modal by virtue of the state of analog switch U15:D, which is dependent upon the state of digital signal \ARC at output terminal of analog comparator U12:A (pin 12). The relation between the signals V_(OA) and V_(OB), both developed by DAC U13 and comparator threshold values V_(THNA) and V_(THAN) will now be derived. Assume first that the output signal of analog comparator U12:A is initially in a logic high state. This requires the level shifted chamber voltage signal, V_(CS) on pin 4 of U12:A, to be at a higher level than the present threshold voltage, V_(TH) on pin 5 of U12:A; by definition the NON_ARCING state. In said scenario, the output terminal of analog switch U15:D presents a high impedance and as discussed previously V_(SW) is forced to take the value V_(OB) by virtue of the low resistance value of R30 and the low input bias current of operational amplifier U14:A Under this condition, the signal at the output terminal of op amp U14:A follows V_(OB), and from Eqn. 2, V_(TH) also takes the value V_(OB). Thus, voltage signal V_(OB) directly sets the scaled, level shifted voltage at which comparator U12:A transitions from the NON_ARCING to the ARCING state, V_(THNA) according to:

V_(THNA)=V_(OB)   (Eqn. 3)

[0086] Once the scaled, shifted chamber voltage magnitude, V_(CS), drops below the programmed NON_ARCING to ARCING state transition value of threshold voltage V_(TH), V_(THNA), generated according to Eqn 3, the signal at the output of comparator U12:A transitions from a logic “1” state (NON ARCING) to a logic “0” (ARCING) state. Assuming the \HYSEN control signal is in the logic “0” state (enabling the programmable hysteresis function), analog switch U15:D closes and the output of analog switch U15:D, V_(SW), follows the input of analog switch U15:D, V_(OA) asserted by DAC A of U13, as discussed above. From Eqn. 2 with V_(OB) set to V_(THNA), the resulting threshold value V_(TH) becomes:

V _(TH)=2V _(THNA) −V _(OA)   (Eqn. 4)

[0087] If the programmed value of hysteresis (scaled to reflect the gains of the PSIM and level shifting network) is V_(HYSS), then setting V_(OA) according to:

V _(OA) =V _(THNA) −V _(HYSS)   (Eqn. 5)

[0088] and substituting into Eqn. 4 provides:

V _(THAN) =V _(THNA) +V _(HYSS)   (Eqn. 6)

[0089] Setting V_(OA) according to Eqn. 5 allows the addition of a fixed hysteresis voltage value V_(HYSS) to the NON_ARCING to ARCING state transition voltage V_(THNA) when the ADU is in the ARCING state to create the ARCING to NON_ARCING transition voltage value V_(THAN). In summary, in this embodiment, DAC B output signal V_(OB) is used to directly set the chamber voltage at which the programmable comparator transitions from the NON_ARCING to ARCING state according to Eqn. 1, while Eqn. 5 indicates an algorithm to determine a value for DAC A to add a hysteresis value to V_(THNA) to generate a related, but possibly higher transition voltage V_(THAN) from the ARCING to NON_ARCING state.

[0090] According to one implementation, the desired chamber threshold voltage value at which programmable comparator 620 transitions from the NON_ARCING to ARCING state and the desired voltage to be added to this chamber voltage threshold value to define the chamber voltage value at which the programmable comparator transitions from the ARCING to NON_ARCING state can be communicated to DSPC 630 from logic arrangement 60 via local data interface 70 and DSPC 630 can compute the correct digital values to send to DAC U13 to generate the appropriate signals V_(OA) and V_(OB) by virtue of affine transformations using appropriate scaling and offset constants stored integral to the DSP memory. In one example embodiment, to provide highly accurate threshold values, said scaling and offset constant values are computed for an individual module to account for the normal deviations from nominal values encountered in electronic components (e.g., resistor tolerance values) by virtue of a calibration routine. These calibration constant values are stored in a serial EEPROM integral to DSPC 630.

[0091] According to one example implementation, the sample rate of the analog to digital converters of DSP 630 is on the order of 10 kHz per channel, or one complete sample of the filtered chamber voltage and current signals, V_(CH) and I_(CH) every 100 uS. At this rate, a randomly occurring microarc of duration of 1 uS or less has a less than 1% probability of being detected by the DSP and, as discussed above, microarcs on the order of 1 uS are both common and can cause damage in integrated circuit manufacture. To reliably detect microarcs on the order of 1 uS or less in duration, ADU 50 includes high speed arc detector logic unit (ADLU) 640 that co-functions with the Programmable Threshold Comparator 620 and which can be controlled and monitored by DSPC 630 to generate statistical data regarding arcing during the PVD process. Referring to FIG. 6, DSPC 630 provides control signals and system clock signal SYSCLK 650 to ADLU 640 and reads and writes data to and from ADLU 640 in a manner to be discussed subsequently. ADLU 640 includes a first high-speed counter adapted to count the number of times the \ARC signal transitions from a NON_ARCING logic state to an ARCING logic state as determined by the programmed voltage threshold value of Programmable Threshold Comparator 620 and the voltage between anode and cathode of chamber 10. As discussed previously, the duration of an arc is one indication of its severity, along with the magnitude of voltage depression and current increase. Accordingly, ADLU 640 also includes a timer adapted to measure the duration over which the Programmable Threshold Comparator spends in the ARCING state since the last timer reset set in a manner to be discussed subsequently. According to one example implementation, the timer is a counter tabulating clock signal cycles. According to one particular example implementation, the fixed clock operates at 30 MHz. The counter accumulates a (count) value proportional to the total time (since last reset) the chamber has been in an arcing condition during the production cycle. Maintaining a running count of the number of system clock cycles that have occurred during the ARCING state provides one measure as to the total time the sputtering process has spent in an arcing condition.

[0092] According to one specific example, the ADLU includes interface means to DSPC 630 in the form of an address and data bus and accepts control signals from DSPC 630 such that DSPC 630 may read and write data from the device. The ADLU includes a register that permits DSPC 30 to control certain ADLU functions, such as resetting, enabling and disabling of counters, and also includes additional registers and control logic to permit DSPC 630 to read status information from the ADLU.

[0093]FIG. 9 illustrates one example implementation of ADLU 640 of the present invention using a general purpose field programmable logic array (FPLA), programmed utilizing well-known FPLA design tools. Signals shown external to ADLU 640 in FIG. 9 represent signals present on physical pins of the FPLA, the signals being either pre-assigned to particular pins of the FPLA during fabrication of the FPLA, or defined by the FPLA “program” downloaded to the FPLA by the DSP on power-up using an integrated FPLA Program Interface 910 pre-defined at fabrication. ADLU 640 comprises a Counter Unit (CU) 920, a Counter Control Register (CCR) 930, and a Counter Status Buffer (CSB) 940 coupled by an Internal Data Bus structure 950 to a DSP Interface Logic Arrangement 960. Signal \ARC 622 is a logical input to ADLU generated by Programmable Threshold Comparator 620 as discussed previously. The system clock signal, SYSCLK 650 is a 30 MHz. logic square wave signal provided by DSPC 630 and provides the time base for the ADLU.

[0094]FIG. 10 illustrates one example implementation of CU 920 of the present invention. CU 920 comprises a 16-bit asynchronous binary counter (ACC) 1010, a 32-bit asynchronous binary counter (ATC) 1020, three 16-bit latches (ACC Latch 1030, ATC High Latch 1040, and ATC Low Latch 1050), and three 16-bit tri-state buffers (ACC 3-State Buffer 1060, ATC High 3-State Buffer 1070, and ATC Low 3-State Buffer 1080). Three digital signals, counter reset (CRST), enable (ENB) and snapshot (SNP) are provided from Counter Control Register 930 to control the operation of the ACC and the ATC counters respectively. When asserted by CCR 930, the CRST signal causes both the ACC and ATC counters to reset to zero and holds the counters in the reset condition while asserted. When CCR 930 releases the CRST signal, the counters are respectively enabled, and increment on each high-to-low transition of their respective clock (CLK) signal inputs. Each counter has a respective overflow bit (OVF) which is asserted (and latched) should a particular counter “roll over” by counting past its maximum quantity capacity and back to zero. An OVF signal remains high until cleared by assertion of the CRST signal. ACC counter 1010 is driven by signal ACCLK, ACCLK being derived from the output terminal 1092 of D flip-flop 1090. ATC counter 1020 is driven by signal ATCLK, which in turn originates from the output terminal of NAND gate 1094.

[0095]FIG. 11 is a timing diagram illustrating the relationships between various signals of ADLU 640. Referring to FIGS. 10 and 11, the DSPC system clock signal, SYSCLK 650 is negated by inverter 1096 to become \SYSCLK 1120. Signal \SYSCLK drives the clock input terminal 1091 of D flip-flop 1090. On each high-to-low transition of the SYSCLK signal from the DSP, the value appearing at the D input terminal 1093 is latched into the D flip-flop and appears at the Q output terminal 1092 of flip-flop 1090 after a short propagation delay.

[0096] The signal presented at the D input terminal 1093 of the D flip-flop is driven by AND gate 1098. Input signals to AND 1098 are the signal ENB 1130 provided from the Counter Control Register 930, and the negation of signal \ARC 622 (\\ARC 1150) from inverter 1097, signal \ARC 622 being provided by Programmable Comparator 620. When either the signal ENB 1130 is in the logic low (FALSE) state, or the \ARC signal is in the high state (indicating detection of a NON_ARCING chamber condition), the signal at the D input terminal 1093 is in the logic low state. Conversely, when the ENB signal is in the logic high state (thereby enabling counting), and the \ARC signal is in the logic low state (indicating detection of an ARCING chamber condition), the signal at the D input terminal 1093 is in the logic high state. Therefore, assuming counting is enabled (signal ENB 1130 is in a logic high state), the ACCLK signal 1160 will be in the logic low state on subsequent high-to-low transitions of the SYSCLK when the chamber is detected in a NON_ARCING condition. When an ARCING condition is detected, for example as indicated at 1180 in FIG. 11 (and assuming counting is still enabled), the \ARC signal is asserted low. On the next high-to-low transition of the SYSCLK signal (as indicated at 1182 in FIG. 11), the ACCLK signal will transition from a low to a high logic state, and remain in a high logic state through subsequent cycles of the SYSCLK signal, until the ARCING condition is no longer detected (and the \ARC signal returns to a logic high state as indicated at 1184 in FIG. 11).

[0097] ACC counter 1010 increments at each low-to-high transition of the signal at its CLK input terminal whenever the CRST signal is asserted low. Thereby, ACC counter 1010 effectively counts the quantity of chamber transitions from the NON_ARCING condition to the ARCING condition, while the ENB signal is asserted high (enabling the counting). In the example embodiment, ACC counter 1010 can resolve microarcs detected by the Programmable Comparator 620 (generating the \ARC signal) as short as 33 nS using a SYSCLK signal having a frequency on the order of 30 MHz. Higher resolution can be achieved by increasing the clock rate.

[0098] ATC counter 1020 is used to estimate the total time the chamber is in the ARCING condition as determined by Programmable Comparator 620. ATC counter 1020 increments at each low-to-high transition of the signal at its CLK input terminal whenever the CRST signal is asserted low. The CLK input terminal of ATC counter 1020 is driven by signal ATCLK 1170 provided by AND gate 1094 having ACCLK and SYSCLK signal inputs. Signal ATCLK 1170 begins tracking the SYSCLK signal 1110 whenever counting is enabled (ENB signal 1130 is high) and a chamber ARCING condition is detected (\ARC signal 1140 is low), for example at 1186 in FIG. 11. Thereafter, ATC counter 1020 counts the clock cycles of the ATCLK signal 1170 that persist while the Programmable Threshold Comparator is in the ARCING state, indicating an arc in the PVD chamber. Using a 30 MHz system clock, the duration of each ARCING condition can be resolved to within a 33 nS increment.

[0099] The ACC 1030, ATC High 1040 and ATC Low 1050 latching snapshot registers permit the ACC counter 1010 value, the ATC counter 1020 high order word, and the ATC counter 1020 low order word values to be captured respectively, on command at an instant in time. This permits DSPC 630 to read the state of the counters at a specified instant, holding those values for subsequent retrieval by DSPC 630, while permitting the ACC and ATC counter to continue to operate according to their respective logic described above. Each of these three 16-bit registers is arranged and configured to capture the instantaneous corresponding counter value on a low-to-high transition of the SNP signal, provided by Counter Control Register 930 under control of DSPC 630 as will be discussed. The output signal of each of the snapshot registers are 3-state buffered to an internal data bus 950 by the ACC 1060, ATC High 1070 and ATC Low 1080 3-state buffers respectively. The DSP Interface Logic 960 asserts an enable signal on RACC 1086 to ACC 3-state buffer 1060 in order to provide the captured value of ACC latching snapshot register 1030 on internal bus 950; asserts an enable signal on RATH 1087 to ATC High 3-state buffer 1070 in order to provide the captured value of ATC High latching snapshot register 1040 on internal bus 950; and asserts an enable signal on RATL 1088 to ATC Low 3-state buffer 1080 in order to provide the captured value of ATC Low latching snapshot register 1050 on internal bus 950.

[0100] Referring again to FIG. 9, the CCR latching register 930 generates the SNP, CRST and ENB signals. DSP Interface Logic 960 provides proper address decoding and timing signals, asserting the commanded values of the SNP, CRST and ENB signals on Internal Data Bus 950 and generating signal WCCR to latch these values into the CCR when commanded to do so by DSPC 630. Counter Status Buffer (CSB) 940 is a 3-state buffer arranged and configured to assert present values of the CRST, ENB, ACCLK, COVF and TOVF signals onto internal data bus 950 when commanded by DSP Interface Logic 960 through assertion of the signal RCSB. DSP Interface Logic 960 subsequently asserts these signals onto the DSPC data bus for use by DSPC 630.

[0101] Referring again to FIG. 9, externally supplied signals in the form of data bus lines DB0-DB15 provide bi directional communication of data to and from DSPC 630, according to the actions of signals \STRB, W/R and address lines AD0-AD15, asserted by DSP 630 to facilitate communication with external devices such as ADLU 640. These data lines are effectively tied internally directly to internal data bus 950 of ADLU 640. DSP 630 asserts the \STRB signal low when attempting to communicate with any external peripheral device, such as ADLU 640. DSPC 630 also asserts signal W/R low when attempting to read from a device, and high when attempting to write to a device. These are general purpose signals asserted by DSPC 630 to communicate with any device. The signal \ADLU_CS is asserted low by DSPC 630 specifically to read or write data from or to ADLU 640. DSP Interface Logic 960 is included in ADLU 640 to generate timing and control signals WCCR, RCSB, RACC, RATL and RATH on command by DSPC 630, according to the operation of the control signals \STRB, W/R and a decoding of address signals AD0 and AD1. Signal WCCR is used to latch the values of ENB, CRST and SNP asserted by DSPC 630 onto Internal Data Bus 950 into CCR 930. Signal RCSB causes the values in CSB 940 to be asserted onto the Internal Data Bus to be subsequently read by DSPC 630. Signals RACC, RATL and RATH enable ACC 3-State Buffer 1060, ATC High 3-State Buffer 1080 and ATC Low 3-State Buffer 1070 respectively as described above to assert the values in latches ACC LATCH 1030, ATC LOW LATCH 1050 and ATC HIGH LATCH 1040 onto Internal Data Bus 950 to be subsequently read by DSPC 630.

[0102]FIG. 12 illustrates one example implementation of DSP Interface Logic 960 of the ADLU 640 of the present invention, to generate signals WCCR, RCSB, RACC, RATL and RATH shown in FIG. 9. Internal to DSP Interface Logic 960, control logic unit (CLU) 1210 inverts the \STRB signal, asserted by DSP 630, via inverter 1220 to form the internal signal \\STRB. Signal \\STRB is a logic high when DSPC 630 is attempting to communicate with any external device. The WR signal is provided at the output of AND gate 1230, from input signals \\STRB and the signal W/R, which is asserted high by DSPC 630 when attempting to write to an external device. The W/R signal is inverted via inverter 1240 to form signal \W/R, with signal \W/R asserted a logic high when the DSP Interface Logic 960 is attempting to read from any external device. The RD signal provided at the output of AND gate 1250 from input signals \\STRB and \W/R, is consequently asserted high whenever the DSPC 630 is reading from an external device.

[0103] Address decoding to generate the control signals for ADLU 640 is functionally provided by an address decoder, for example, a 2-to-4 binary address decoder 1260 as shown in FIG. 12. As stated above, DSPC 630 asserts logic 0 on the \ADLU_CS terminal of ADLU 640 when reading from or writing to ADLU 640. When the \ADLU_CS signal is set to a logic high state, all four signals at output terminals of decoder 1260 Q0, . . . , Q3 are set to a logic low state. When the \ADLU_CS signal is asserted in a logic state by DSPC 630, decoder 1260 sets exactly one of the signals at the output terminals to a logic high state, the particular output set to logic high determined from the present value of the A0 and A1 bits asserted by DSPC 630 and in accordance with Table 1, where “0” in Table 1 is a logic low, “1” is a logic high, and “X” is an irrelevant state: TABLE 1 Input Input Input Output \ADLU_CS A1 A0 Output Asserted High 1 X X NONE 0 0 0 Q0 0 0 1 Q1 0 1 0 Q2 0 1 1 Q3

[0104] With the decoder logic as set forth above, Table 2 defines the logic generating the signals at each of the function select outputs in FIG. 12, as well as the operation performed by DSPC 630 on the ADLU. TABLE 2 SIGNAL NAME LOGIC DSPC 630 FUNCTION WCCR Q0 AND WR WRITE COUNTER CONTROL REGISTER VALUE RCSB Q0 AND RD READ COUNTER STATUS BUFFER RACC Q1 AND RD READ ACC LATCH VALUE RATL Q2 AND RD READ ATC LOW LATCH VALUE RATH Q3 AND RD READ ATC HIGH LATCH VALUE

[0105] The processing of signals I_(CH) and V_(CH) generated by Analog Signal Conditioner 610 is now discussed in greater detail. Referring again to FIG. 6, the signals I_(CH) and V_(CH), generated by Analog Signal Conditioner 610 are responsive to the chamber voltage and current, but are conditioned by Analog Signal Conditioner 610 to minimize aliasing at sampling frequencies greater than about 10 kHz. Integral to the TMS320F2407 DSP incorporated in DSPC 630 is a 16 channel, dual 10 bit analog to digital converter module that converts voltages at its input channels into numbers ranging between 0 and 1023, in proportion to a reference voltage, and an internal timing mechanism under software control that can sample the up to 16 input voltages at a fixed rate. In one particular embodiment, the reference voltage for the internal analog to digital converter is provided by a commercially available bandgap regulator, Model REF193, manufactured by National Semiconductor. This regulator provides a stable, accurate 3.00 volt source to the analog to digital converters. Thus, the integral analog to digital converters provided in the digital signal processor of DSPC 630 convert the time varying signals I_(CH)(t) and V_(CH)(t) to number sequences {N_(ICH)} and {N_(VCH)} ranging between 0 and 1023 according to:

N _(ICH)(n)=FIX((I _(CH)(nT)/V _(REF))* 1024)   Eqn 8

[0106] and

N _(VCH)(n)=FIX((V _(CH)(nT)/V _(REF))* 1024)   Eqn 8

[0107] Where the function FIX(arg) truncates the value of its argument “arg” to the nearest integer, n denotes the nth sample taken by DSPC 630 from a reference time and T is the sample period. In one particular embodiment, the DSP is programmed to convert the analog signals V_(CH) and I_(CH) at a rate of 10 kHz, resulting in sampled data sequences of numbers {N_(VCH)} and {N_(ICH)} responsive to the chamber voltage and current. In one particular embodiment, software internal to the DSP provides for the application of user selectable digital finite impulse response (FIR) filters to the sequences, resulting in filtered sequences {F_(VCH)} and {F_(ICH)} respectively, although other signal processing techniques can be applied to the sequences without loss of generality. In one particular embodiment, an affine transformation is applied to the sequences {F_(VCH)} and {F_(ICH)} resulting in sequences of numbers {SF_(VCH)} and {SF_(ICH)} that are a scaled integer estimate sequences of the chamber voltage and current. In one example, the affine transformations are such that a continuously applied chamber voltage of 1000 volts results in the generation of a sequence of integers each with value 1000, with other voltage values scaled proportional. Similarly, in this example, the affine transformation applied to the sequence derived by sampling and converting the I_(CH) signal takes into consideration the various gains and offsets of the PSIM and Analog Signal Conditioning circuits, resulting in a transformation in which a current of 10.00 Amperes appears as the integer 1000, with other values proportional.

[0108] In one example implementation, the present value of the sequences are communicated via high speed communication interface 70 to logic arrangement 60 where logic arrangement 60 uses the present and past values to compute an adaptive arc threshold voltage value to be used by Programmable Threshold Comparator 620. This adaptive arc threshold voltage value and desired hysteresis level is subsequently communicated from logic arrangement 60 back to DSPC 630 via High Speed Communication Interface 70. DSPC 630 then converts the desired threshold values to the appropriate DAC values according to the operation of Programmable Threshold Comparator 620. This approach results in a near real time adaptive threshold. In another example implementation, the algorithms to generate the adaptive threshold reside in DSPC 630 itself, resulting in an adaptive voltage threshold with minimal delay.

[0109] One example algorithm to generate an adaptive arc voltage threshold is to base the computed threshold on a moving average of the voltage sequence computed by DSPC 630, the length of the moving average chosen to be long compared to the expected duration of an arc, but short with respect to the period of rotation of the steering magnet. At a 10 kHz sample rate, the moving average can be computed using a uniformly weighted 64 point FIR filter, the sequence at the filter output representing the average of the previous 6.4 mS of voltage measurements. In one implementation, the adaptive arc threshold value is computed by subtracting a fixed voltage from the moving average. In another example implementation, the adaptive threshold is computed as a fixed percentage of the moving average.

[0110] These filtered, transformed sequences can also be used to provide further information indicative of the overall health of the process. In one example, multiplying the instantaneous value of the current sequence with the instantaneous value of the voltage sequence provides an instantaneous power sequence that can be used to verify that the actual power delivered to the vacuum chamber is that delivered by the power supply. Such a sequence can be used to determine, for example, that a cable breakdown is occurring, shunting current around the vacuum chamber. Another example of the use of these sequences is that they can be used as an independent means to estimate the rotational speed of the steering magnet. As described above, it has been observed that the chamber voltage and current vary periodically with the steering magnet period as the chamber impedance varies due to geometric and other considerations. In one example, the scaled voltage or current sequence is passed through a digital high pass filter to remove the DC component. The resulting AC sequence is then tracked by a digital phase locked loop, from which the rotational frequency of the steering magnet is estimated. In another example implementation, a discrete Fourier transform is applied to the voltage or current sequence, and the magnet rotation frequency determined from the resulting spectrum. If the estimated rotation speed differs significantly from the expected rotation speed, a mechanical or electrical problem may be the cause. This information can be used to detect an incipient fault in the mechanical or electrical system.

[0111] According to another example embodiment of the present invention, the components and operation described above are replicated for monitoring multiple chambers or for detecting ARCING based upon additional threshold values applied to a single chamber voltage and current signals. In a particular example embodiment, four independently operating ADU functions controlled by a single DSPC 630 are provided. The four chamber version of the ADU can be configured to simultaneously monitor four independent chambers via four PSIMs, or a single PSIM can drive multiple ADU chamber inputs by wiring the corresponding VPSIM+, VPSIM−, IPSIM+ and IPSIM− ADU input signals for multiple chambers in parallel. In an example embodiment, when all four ADU functions are monitoring a single chamber via a single PSIM and wired in this manner, four different threshold values can be programmed for a single chamber. A count of number of arcs and arc duration at each programmed threshold value is maintained by the combination of corresponding Programmable Comparator 620 and ADLU 640. In the embodiment, DSPC 630 has access to all four ADLU functions, and arcing conditions can be resolved into one of four levels corresponding to the four independently programmed thresholds.

[0112] For instance, in a system employing four independent monitors attached to a single PSIM per above, and voltage threshold magnitudes programmed at 100, 200, 300 and 400 volts, a single arc having a minimum voltage magnitude of 250 volts will appear on the monitors with thresholds programmed at 300 and 400 volts, but not on those programmed at 100 and 200 volts. Furthermore, if the system is capturing a single arc in this manner, the period over which the chamber voltage collapses below the 300 volt level will appear simultaneously in the ADLU arc time counters corresponding to the 300 and 400 volt level, while the period over which the chamber voltage collapse is between 300 and 400 volts will appear only on the ADLU arc time counter corresponding to the 400 volt level. The arc event can then be resolved into two arc times—the arc time spent between 200 and 300 volts, read directly from the arc time counter of the ADLU corresponding to the 300 volt threshold, plus the arc time spent between 300 and 400 volts, computed by taking the difference between the ADLU arc time counters corresponding to the 400 volts and 300 volts respectively. This algorithm can be repeated as required for other arcs of different intensities.

[0113] In one particular example implementation, DSPC 630 samples the four ADLU register sets at a 10 kHz rate and communicates the arc count and arc time count for all four channels via High Speed Communication Interface 70 to Logic Arrangement 60. DSPC 630 also samples and transfers the nominal, filtered chamber current I_(CH), and filtered chamber voltage V_(CH) to Logic Arrangement 60, which performs the mathematical operations required to resolve the arc per above and compute an estimate of arc energy. All four arc voltage threshold values can be computed adaptively by extension of the discussion above. In another example embodiment, DSPC 630 performs the computations internally, transmitting the resulting estimate of arc related parameters, such as arc time at each threshold value, and estimated arc energy to Logic Arrangement 60.

[0114] According to one example implementation, the logic arrangement 60 is an external logic arrangement, for example a programmable logic controller (PLC), tophat, or similar computing device. According to a more particular embodiment, the logic arrangement 60 is a Schneider Automation M1-E PLC. According to one aspect of the present invention, the ADU is incorporated into a Momentum form factor and adapted to communicate with Momentum tophats and programmable logic controllers (PLCs).

[0115] In one implementation, the data collected by the logic arrangement 60 is recorded. Software running on the logic arrangement 60 logs data, graphs data, and can provide network-based alarms responsive to the data. A system controller provides real-time control of the plasma generation application. When the arc count and/or arcing duration exceeds a selected quantity per deposition, the logic arrangement 60 determines according to a pre-defined algorithm that the arcing is damaging the substrate during material deposition, and communicates with the system controller to terminate the deposition. The logic arrangement 60 can also indicate that the substrate being processed will have reduced yield due to the arcing.

[0116] In addition to counting arcs and the cumulative duration of arcing for each deposition, the logic arrangement 60 is used to perform other real-time analysis of arc information in other implementations. For instance, analysis such as recording the total number (and duration) of arcs for the target, recording the arc intensity (referring to the proximity to ground potential, indicative of a direct short), and detecting continual arcing, which indicates a potential defect in the target requiring complete tool shut down for repair. In another implementation, a system controller provides a signal based on arcing rates, on arcing durations, on rate of change of arc rate/durations, or based on arc “quality,” arc quality being proportional to duration, quantity and arc intensity (i.e., magnitude) or severity (as measure for example, by a product of the arc duration and magnitude).

[0117] According to another example embodiment of the present invention, a method integrates an arc detector with hardware necessary to inform a user, in real-time, that there is a problem with the sputtering source and that the newly-processed wafer may have reduced yield. Accordingly, various embodiments of the present invention can be realized to provide arc detection in other plasma generation control applications, such as for case hardening steel, among others. Generally, the circuit arrangements and methods of the present invention are applicable wherever a plasma generation chamber or its equivalent might be implemented.

[0118] The various embodiments described above are provided by way of illustration only and should not be construed to limit the invention. Based on the above discussion and illustrations, those skilled in the art will readily recognize that various modifications and changes may be made to the present invention without strictly following the exemplary embodiments and applications illustrated and described herein. Such modifications and changes do not depart from the true spirit and scope of the present invention that is set forth in the following claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A plasma generation apparatus, comprising: a power supply circuit having a cathode enclosed in a chamber, and adapted to generate a power-related parameter; and an arc detection arrangement communicatively coupled to the power supply circuit and adapted to assess the severity of arcing in the chamber by comparing the power-related parameter to at least one threshold.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the arc detection arrangement is further adapted to measure arcing duration responsive to comparing the power-related parameter to the at least one threshold.
 3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the arc detection arrangement includes a clock providing a clock signal having a fixed period and a digital counting arrangement adapted to count clock signal periods responsive to comparing the power-related parameter to at least one threshold.
 4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the arc detection arrangement is further adapted to measure cumulative arcing duration responsive to comparing the power-related parameter to at least one threshold.
 5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the arc detection arrangement includes a clock providing a clock signal having a fixed period and a digital counting arrangement adapted to accumulate a count of clock signal periods responsive to comparing the power-related parameter to at least one threshold.
 6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the arc detection arrangement is further adapted to measure arcing intensity responsive to comparing the power-related parameter to at least one threshold.
 7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the arc detection arrangement is further adapted to measure arcing duration responsive to comparing the power-related parameter to at least one threshold.
 8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the arc detection arrangement is further adapted to measure arcing energy responsive to comparing the power-related parameter to at least one threshold.
 9. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the arc detection arrangement is further adapted to measure cumulative arcing energy responsive to comparing the power-related parameter to at least one threshold.
 10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the arc detection arrangement is further adapted to assess the severity of arcing as a function of a product of arcing intensity and arcing duration.
 11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the arc detection arrangement is further adapted to assess the severity of arcing as a function of a sum of products of arcing intensity and arcing duration.
 12. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the arc detection arrangement is further adapted to estimate arcing energy as a function of the power-related parameter integrated over a time interval responsive to comparing the power-related parameter to the at least one threshold.
 13. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the arc detection arrangement is further adapted to approximate an area bounded by a function of the power-related parameter versus time and at least one threshold.
 14. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein at least one threshold is programmable via a logic arrangement coupled to the arc detection arrangement.
 15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein at least one programmable threshold is hysteretic.
 16. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein at least one threshold is hysteretic.
 17. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein at least one threshold is programmable responsive to a non-arcing value of the power-related parameter.
 18. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the arc detection arrangement includes a power-related parameter band-limiting filter.
 19. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the arc detection arrangement is adapted to digitize the power-related parameter before comparing to the at least one threshold.
 20. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a logic arrangement communicatively coupled to the arc detection arrangement, and adapted to process digital information representative of arcing transmitted from the arc detection arrangement.
 21. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the logic arrangement is a programmable logic controller.
 22. A method for assessing arcing severity in a plasma generation chamber, comprising: timing an arc duration responsive to comparing a power-related parameter to at least one arc intensity threshold; and adding the arc duration to an accumulated arcing duration.
 23. The method of claim 22, wherein at least one arc intensity threshold is hysteretic.
 24. The method of claim 22, further comprising counting arc occurrences.
 25. The method of claim 22, further comprising assessing arc severity as a function of arc intensity and arc duration.
 26. The method of claim 22, further comprising assessing arc intensity as a function of the product of arc intensity and arc duration.
 27. The method of claim 22, further comprising; measuring the power-related parameter during non-arcing plasma generation; and automatically adjusting the at least one arc intensity threshold responsive to the measuring the power-related parameter during non-arcing plasma generation.
 28. A method to assess arcing severity in a plasma generation chamber, comprising: determining arc intensity by comparing a power-related parameter to at least one arc intensity threshold; timing an arc duration responsive to comparing the power-related parameter to the at least one arc intensity threshold; computing arc energy as a function of arc intensity and arc duration; and adding the arc energy to an accumulated arcing energy.
 29. The method of claim 28, further including counting arc occurrences responsive to comparing the power-related parameter to the at least one arc intensity threshold.
 30. The method of claim 29, further including: transmitting information representative of arcing to a computing arrangement on command via a shared data path, the information being one selected from a group that includes quantity of arc occurrences and accumulated arcing duration.
 31. The method of claim 28, wherein at least one arc intensity threshold is hysteretic.
 32. The method of claim 28, further including: measuring the power-related parameter's nominal value during non-arcing plasma generation; and automatically programming the at least one arc intensity threshold responsive to the power-related parameter's nominal value.
 33. The method of claim 28, further comprising: forming the power-related parameter as a digital representation of plasma generation chamber operating characteristics.
 34. The method of claim 28, wherein the power-related parameter is a function of plasma generation chamber voltage.
 35. The method of claim 28, further comprising: communicating the quantity of arcs and the accumulated arcing duration to a computing arrangement a common data path.
 36. An apparatus for assess arcing severity in a plasma generation chamber, comprising: means for determining arc intensity by comparing a power-related parameter to at least one arc intensity threshold; means for timing an arc duration responsive to comparing the power-related parameter to the at least one arc intensity threshold; means for computing arc energy as a function of arc intensity and arc duration; and means for adding the arc energy to an accumulated arcing energy. 